Activities at Lawton Rise Care Home

Residents and staff at Lawton Rise in Goldenhill celebrated all things Irish for St Patrick’s Day this week. The home was decorated with shamrocks and everyone got dressed up in green to mark the day.

Held on March 17th, Saint Patrick's Day actually observes the death of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but the day has come to be a huge celebration of Irish heritage and culture.

Staff and residents at the home marked the day by making shamrock decorations, listening to Irish folk music and completing St Patrick-themed puzzles. Chefs Emma, Heather, Jade and Sara prepared a fantastic spread with Liver & Onions or Pork Loin Chop with Dauphinoise potatoes, all washed down with Guinness or an Irish whiskey.

Residents at Barchester Healthcare’s Lawton Rise care home, in Goldenhill, celebrated Mother’s Day with a flower arranging workshop and afternoon tea. The home was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and balloons for the occasion.

Staff at Lawton Rise arranged for masses of fresh flowers to be delivered in order to deliver a luxury flower arranging workshop whereby residents were able to select and customise their own bouquet. Chefs at the home, Emma, Heather, Jade and Sara prepared a special menu of Roast Chicken & Stuffing dinner or Stewed Mince & Dumpling to mark the day, later accompanied with an afternoon tea which included plenty of cupcakes and finger sandwiches.

General Manager, Jennifer said: “We’ve all had a really lovely day. Although Mother’s Day has had to be a bit different this year, we have made good use of our visiting suite to make sure lots of our residents had a visit with their loved ones.”

Lawton Rise Care Home in Stoke on Trent has recently brought a bit of magic to residents by providing a new ‘Magic Table 360 and the Happiness Programme’ as a way to improve residents’ quality of life.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the Magic Table 360 uses interactive games to connect residents with staff and with each other, and research shows it improves the wellbeing of people living with dementia. Using interactive light projections, the Magic Table 360, which can be played independently or in a group, stimulates movement by inviting participants to take part in all sorts of different fun activities such as popping bubbles, playing the piano, colouring in pictures, sweeping leaves or interacting playfully with fish. Games are rich in colour, movement and detail, and allow people of all ages to play in a safe and comfortable environment.

The Magic Table 360 is portable so it can be used wherever residents feel most comfortable, it can be projected onto the floor, ceiling, walls, a whiteboard or even the bed. The Happiness Programme allows for a range of games that change seasonally and have country-specific versions covering 14 different categories, so there will always be something new for residents to try.

Residents from Lawton Rise enjoyed an afternoon of baking making as part of their baking club delicious cupcakes, which took them back to their younger years.  Baking sessions are a popular activity for the home and the activity had taste buds tingling.

The homes activities coordinator, said: “The residents enjoyed getting creative with their decorations as it not only brings back memories of their childhood, but also times when they’ve baked with their own children and grandchildren. Once all the cakes were decorated, we all enjoyed sitting down with a cup of tea and a home-made cake.”

Residents are overjoyed at Lawton Rise care home in Stoke on Trent, as Barchester Healthcare has implemented a visiting suite for residents to continue to spend time with their loved ones for the autumn and winter seasons in addition to the outdoor visiting that has been on offer for those able for many months.

Balancing resident wellbeing and safety is at the forefront of Barchester Healthcare’s thinking and they understand how important it is for residents and their family and friends to be able to spend time together in the safest way possible.

There has been much careful planning and preparation for this moment by Barchester Healthcare, who run Lawton Rise care home. It was welcome news for their residents and family and friends as we enter the colder season meaning catch-ups can continue to take place, instead of, or in addition to, outdoor visiting already offered for those able.

Staff at Lawton Rise swapped their uniforms for costumes on National Elf Day (Friday December 4) in an effort to raise funds to help people living with dementia.

Launched by the Alzheimer’s Society and delivered direct from the North Pole, Elf Day was created to sprinkle some festive cheer on fundraising towards finding a cure for dementia. From stripy socks to head-to-toe elf outfits, anything goes – there’s snow better way to raise money to help beat dementia.

On the day, residents and staff at Lawton Rise were able to enjoy elf-themed games including best-dressed elf competition, Christmas quiz as the team at the home donned their elfish apparel. The home managed to raise a total of £44.00 towards the cause.